Method and device for assisting in driving a vehicle

Abstract

A method and device for assisting in driving a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, having a surroundings detector for detecting at least a partial area of the surroundings of the vehicle, an output device for the output of information concerning the vehicle surroundings obtained from the surroundings detection to a driver, and an evaluation unit for determining a risk level based on the vehicle-surroundings information. To facilitate driving of the vehicle, it is provided that at least a portion of the vehicle-surroundings information provided for determining the risk level, and the risk level determined by the evaluation unit are output continuously by the output device to the driver during operation of the vehicle.

1. A method for assisting in driving a vehicle, comprising:
 detecting, with a surroundings detector, at least a partial area of surroundings of the vehicle; 
 determining, using an evaluation unit, a risk level based on the detected vehicle surroundings; 
 determining, using the evaluation unit, a reliability of the determined risk level; and 
 continuously outputting to a vehicle driver, during operation of the vehicle, and using an output device, information concerning the detected vehicle surroundings, and the risk level and risk level reliability determined by the evaluation unit; 
 wherein:
 vehicle sensors are evaluated with respect to at least one of driving conditions and operating conditions of the vehicle; and 
 a risk emanating from the at least one of the driving conditions and operating conditions of the vehicle is analyzed and taken into consideration for the determination of the risk level. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of (a) the information concerning the detected vehicle surroundings, (b) the risk level, and (c) the reliability of the determined risk level is displayed by the output device. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the risk level is output using a color-variable color display, and a color of the color-variable color display is a measure for the risk level. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the reliability of the determined risk level is output using a bar display that is variable lengthwise, and a length of the bar display is a measure for the reliability of the determined risk level. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the risk level is output using a blinking display, and at least one of a blinking frequency and a build-up speed of the blinking display is a measure for the risk level. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the reliability of the determined risk level is output using one of the color display, bar display and blinking display that is variable in light intensity, and a light intensity of the one of the color display, bar display, and blinking display is a measure for the reliability of the assertion. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the information concerning the detected vehicle surroundings is displayed by the output device on a display device at a position on the display device corresponding to a location of a possible risk in the surroundings of the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A device for a vehicle, comprising:
 a surroundings detector adapted to detect at least a partial area of surroundings of the vehicle; 
 an evaluation unit adapted to:
 determine a risk level based on the detected vehicle surroundings; and 
 determine a reliability of the determined risk level; and 
 
 an output device adapted to continuously output to a vehicle driver during operation of the vehicle, information concerning the detected vehicle surroundings, and the risk level and risk level reliability determined by the evaluation unit 
 wherein:
 the evaluation unit is adapted for evaluating at least one of driving conditions and operating conditions of the vehicle; and 
 a risk emanating from the at least one of the driving conditions and operating conditions of the vehicle is analyzed and taken into consideration for the determination of the risk level. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the output device includes a display screen. 
     
     
       10. The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the output device includes a lighting chain.